Crab and minnow trap



Oct. 22, 1940. R 54 FULLER' JR j2,218,843

GRAB AND MINNOW TRAP Filed Nov. '7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO RN EYS R. S. FULLER. JR

GRAB AND nINNow TRAE Filed Nov. 7, 1939 y Oct. 22, 1940.

ZZ Zz 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l' lr JENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE The invention relates to a trap and more especially to a non-collapsible box or trap for crabs and minnows.

'I'he primary object of the invention is the provision of a trap of this character wherein the side walls thereof when in an open position can be closed for trapping purposes, the closing being had from a casting line, chain or cable and within the said trap bait can be stored, the trap being especially designed for trapping crabs and minnows and also will function as a live box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trap of this character wherein the opening and closing sides thereof can be latched in a closed position and these sides under the tension of springs will automatically swing to an open position when unlatched. l'

A further object of the invention is the provision of a trap of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient 2 in operation, convenient for easy handling, strong,

durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of partsA as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view vof the trap constructed in accordance with the invention showing the sides in open position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view take on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 locking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the trap with the sides in closed position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View showing in detail one of the latches employed with the device.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally. the .trap constructed in accordance with the invention which comprises a rigid main body frame Ill, preferably made from wire having the required rigidity and strength, and this body frame -is formed with an upwardly 50 tapered reticulated crown II and a reticulated at bottom I2, respectively, the frame being preferably four-sided and susceptible of being opened at the four sides thereof. The open sides of the frame I0 are adapted to be closed by reticulated side sections I3, being hinged at I4 for swinging movement to opened or closed positions. Each side I3 has associated therewith springs I5 of the coiled type which function to swing the companion rsections thereto to an opened position.

The side sections when closed are fastened in this position by hook-like latches I6, thesevbeing rotatably hung on upper side rails or bars I'I of the said frame III. The latches I6 are manually released toallow the side sections I3 to move to openposition under vthe tension of the springs I5. Engaged with the latching edges of the side sections I3 to eyes I8 formed thereon are pull chains I9, these being trained through a guide 2li flxedly mounted at the peak of the crown II and these chains are joined with a grouping ring 2 I carried by a hoisting chain 22. Thechain 22 operates the chains I9 so that the side sections I3 will swing to closing position from open position as shown in Figure 2 to the closed posi# tion shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. These side sections I3 when in closing position can be latched by the latches I6 hereinbefore set forth. Arranged within the frame I0 and attached to the bottom are bait hooks 23 for bait.

The trap is designed particularly as a crab or minnow trap and can be used as a live box for service to fishermen.

The springs I5 of the coiled type create the hinges I4 for the side sections I3 in that the lat- I3 when swung upwardly to closing position do not become automatically latchedby the latches I6 as the latter have to be manually operated for latching purposes, the said latches being kicked out of the way of the kside sections I 3 on the closing thereof, as is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and the weight of the body frame counter to the lifting of the trap and the resistance of the springs I5 does not interfere with the closing movement of the side sections I3 on the bodily lifting of the trap by the hoisting chain 22.

What is claimed is:

A trap of thekind described comprising a body frame having an upwardly tapered permanent crown and a permanent at bottom, swingable side sections connected with the frame and movable for the opening and closing thereof, springs active on the side sections for movingthe same to open position, pull members rconnected with the side sections for the closing thereof, a guide at the crown and having the pull members trained therethrough, and a hoist member connected with said pull members and having means limiting the movement of the said pull members in one direction for cooperationwith the guide. 

